Democratic States Stand Up to Trump’s Voter Suppression Tactics at Supreme Court
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Twenty-three Democratic-led states are fighting back against the Trump administration’s blatant attempt to suppress mail-in voting, urging the Supreme Court to block a presidential order that would disenfranchise millions by imposing last-minute, unnecessary restrictions.
California and 22 other states governed by Democrats have courageously filed a petition with the Supreme Court, seeking to halt the Trump administration’s latest assault on democracy: a plan to restrict mail-in voting through the U.S. Postal Service. These states argue that imposing new federal regulations so close to the election is a calculated move to create chaos, risking errors that could strip eligible voters—especially people with disabilities and those in rural communities—of their fundamental right to vote. The petition warns, 'Because of the high risk of errors and the limited window for correcting mistakes, many of the millions of voters who rely on mail voting — especially voters with disabilities and those in rural areas — would likely be denied mail ballots and disenfranchised.' The states also remind the Court that the Constitution gives the power to set election rules to the states and Congress, not to an authoritarian president seeking to manipulate the outcome. The Supreme Court will soon decide whether to allow this dangerous plan to proceed while more detailed guidelines are drafted. In a desperate move last week, Solicitor General John Sauer filed an emergency appeal, pushing the Court to let these undemocratic regulations stand, even though the midterms are just three months away. Trump’s executive order, issued on March 31, directs the Postal Service to use state-by-state lists of eligible voters for mail ballots and hands over more power to the Department of Homeland Security, raising concerns about federal overreach. Federal judges in Boston and the First Circuit have already blocked enforcement of these rules in the 23 states that are bravely resisting. The petition highlights that the Postal Service handled nearly 100 million mail ballots in 2024, with about 30 percent of all voters choosing to vote by mail—a testament to the importance of protecting this vital democratic process.